"Not my fault he's an ass, but it is my fault for punching him." And he hadn't missed the quick gush of blood that had resulted from Freddie either biting his own tongue or his nose breaking. Ganymede's knuckles were aching, telling him it had been a solid shot.

"If I had my boot knife--" Ganymede had started to explain, only to be cut off by the kiss he wasn't prepared for. Alexander almost never kissed him in public, and in the middle of his parents' kitchen was quite public enough.

He stared for a moment, lost for words. "I love you," he said in a rush of breath. "More than anything."